Welcome back for another edition of A Second Look with Jeff Stockton! In this segment I will take a "second look" at a past LRF release with a fresh set of eyes.
When Painkiller Jane first debuted in Season 18, I remember being caught off guard by how funny it was. Based on a cult comic and directed by John Wick’s Chad Stahelski, the film follows NYPD detective Jane Vasko (Jessica Chastain), left in a coma after a drug bust gone wrong. Two years later, she wakes up, discovers she can heal from any wound, and sets out on a bullet-riddled revenge spree against the Blanco brothers (Wilmer Valderrama, in dual roles). What could have been grim pulp turns instead into a surprisingly lively mix of action, dark comedy, and character-driven melodrama. The cast seemed to be having a blast—Chastain’s intensity anchored the chaos, Jason Mantzoukas was hilarious as her loyal partner, and even Adam Scott managed to make the “sad fiancé” trope memorable. My biggest complaint at the time was that the movie could have used more action, but I still gave it a strong score for being funnier and more self-aware than expected.
Rewatching it now, I’m less enamored. The film’s tone feels wobblier than I remembered - caught somewhere between revenge thriller, campy superhero flick, and offbeat romantic drama. Stahelski stages a few solid gunfights, but the story never fully exploits its own premise: a sexy, near-invincible cop using her healing powers for vengeance. Chastain remains excellent - cold, fierce, and magnetic - and Mantzoukas is still an absolute delight, but the rest hasn’t aged gracefully. The lesbian subplot between Jane and her nurse feels shoehorned in, well-intentioned but awkwardly handled, and the movie’s sense of humor occasionally undermines its more emotional beats. There’s still a lot to like, but Painkiller Jane ultimately plays like a strong concept never pushed to its full potential.
Original Grade: B+
New Grade: B-
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